Nearly three-quarters of physician specialties saw compensation increases in 2015 – AMGA
Seventy-four percent of physician specialties saw increases in their compensation in 2015, led by emergency medicine, according to the American Medical Group Association. Overall, the weighted average increase in median compensation across all physician specialties was 3.1%, according to the 2016... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 16, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

FBI questions legality of telemedicine compact laws
The FBI is raising concerns that language in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact violates federal regulations over criminal background checks. The government pushback could mean implementation delays of telemedicine legislation that 17 states have <a... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 15, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

Topical timolol improves thinnest infantile hemangiomas
Topical timolol maleate acts as an effective alternate to oral propranolol for treatment of certain infantile hemangiomas (IHs), based on data from a retrospective study of 731 children. The findings were published online August 15 in Pediatrics. “Superficial, relatively thin IHs, regardless of... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 15, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

Most physician practices unsure about joining ACOs
The majority of physician practices are uncertain about joining or starting an accountable care organization (ACO), according to a survey. Of nearly 400 hospital-owned and freestanding outpatient practices, 65% were unsure how to approach accountable care, a survey by Healthcare Information and... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 14, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

Mycobiome much more diverse in children than in adults
The normal fungal communities that inhabit healthy skin are much more diverse in children than adults, a new study has discovered. That diversity dwindles, however, around puberty, when the lipophilic taxa Malassezia surges in abundance. This is probably mediated by the increase in sebaceous gland... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 13, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

Tofacitinib clears pediatric alopecia areata in small study
MINNEAPOLIS – The first study to evaluate tofacitinib’s effectiveness at treating severe alopecia areata in the pediatric population found that the janus kinase inhibitor was effective for more than half of the patients, and well tolerated by all. Of a case series of 13 pediatric patients who had... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 13, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

CDC reports two new cases of Zika-related birth defects
Two live-born infants with Zika virus–related birth defects were reported the week ending Aug. 4, 2016, bringing the U.S. total to 17, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. One of the two infants was born in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, and the other was the... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 12, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

Study evaluates Zika syndrome with joint contractures
Congenital Zika syndrome should be added to the differential diagnosis of congenital infections and arthrogryposis (joint contractures), results from a case series study in Brazil suggest. “Brain impairment in the presence of microcephaly is the main characteristic of a congenital Zika virus... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 9, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

Two-dose HPV vaccines at younger age are noninferior to standard three-dose vaccine
Girls who receive a two-dose regimen of human papillomavirus (HPV)–16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine at any age between 9 and 14 years, in either a 6-month or a 12-month interval, appear to be equally protected as those who received a 6-month, three-dose regimen at the age of 15-25 years, according to... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 9, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

Medicaid expansion leads to better access to care
Low-income adults living in two states that expanded Medicaid enrollment are showing significant increases in outpatient utilization and preventive care, improved health care quality, and reductions in emergency department use, compared with those living in a state that did not expand Medicaid,... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 9, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

HPV vaccination provides protection for immunocompromised children
A quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine provided adequate seroconversion response rates in immunocompromised children, according to Dr. C. Raina MacIntyre, MBBS, PhD, and her associates. In a clinical trial of 59 immunocompromised children aged 5-18, seroconversion rates for HPV types 6, 11,... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 9, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

Cardiovascular disease, gender among predictors of nonresponse early in cellulitis treatment
Nonpharmacological factors including being female and having cardiovascular disease have an impact on early response among patients hospitalized with cellulitis, a single-center prospective study found. “Cellulitis is usually caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci (BHS) susceptible to penicillin... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 5, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

Territories now have U.S. majority of pregnant women with Zika
The total number of pregnant women with evidence of Zika virus infection reported in the U.S. territories surpassed that of the 50 states and the District of Columbia during the week ending July 28, 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were 71 new cases of Zika... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 5, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

Clindamycin confers no extra benefit for kids with SSSS
MINNEAPOLIS – A large single-site case review found that most pediatric patients with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) had a classic presentation, often preceded by an upper respiratory tract infection. In the review, surgical debridement increased hospital length of stay, and the use... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 5, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

Possible downside to cloth diapers: bullous diaper dermatitis
MINNEAPOLIS – A small study of cloth diaper–wearing toddlers with unusual vesiculobullous and erosive lesions found that the rashes fully resolved with aggressive barrier cream application and a switch to disposable diapers. The four patients had previously received aggressive work-ups, including... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 4, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news